21. Sep 2026
Biobased pharmaceutical packaging win multiple industry awards
The Deterra® Drug Disposal Pouch, which is made with 50% or more I'm green™ biobased polymer (bio-PE), has gained Accredo Packaging a number of leading packing industry awards.
Developed by Verde, the patented drug disposal technology is designed to deactivate unused medications, preventing drug diversion and mitigating the risk of pharmaceuticals leaching into groundwater and waterways. The partial use of I’m green biobased polymer derived from renewable sugarcane, reduces the carbon footprint of the packaging material compared to equivalent fossil-based polyethylene, all whilst maintaining the technical performance required for pharmaceutical disposal applications.
Material innovation and application
The Deterra pouch required a material that could meet strict technical specifications without relying entirely on traditional, fossil-based plastics. By utilizing bio-PE, the packaging has a reduced carbon footprint whilst maintaining the performance of conventional polyethylene. Backed by the API Group, a family and minority owned company with 40+ years in the packaging industry, Accredo Packaging’s expertise in advanced film design, engineering, and processing enabled the successful incorporation of biobased materials into a high-performance flexible packaging structure. This achievement demonstrates that incorporating biobased materials and maintaining functional performance are not competing priorities.
“These awards are a testament to how I’m green biobased portfolio enables our partners to meet the most rigorous technical standards and their sustainability commitments”, said Andres Prince, Key Account Manager at I’m green™ biobased. “By integrating renewable materials into a product as critical as the Deterra® pouch, we are demonstrating that the transition to a biobased economy is happening now.” Braskem supplies the bio-PE resin used in the Deterra pouch.
Industry recognition
The pouch’s successful application of bio-PE materials, has been recognized by the packaging industry for excellence in both technical design and innovation in biobased material applications:
| Award | Organization | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Silver Award | Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) | Packaging Excellence |
| Silver Award | Flexible Packaging Association (FPA) | Sustainability |
| Award of Distinction | PAC Global | Technical Package Design |
Biobased materials in practice
The pouch illustrates how biobased polymers can be utilized to reduce product carbon footprints at the very start of polymer production. The use of renewable sources of carbon, instead of fossil-based sources, can still provide versatility and high-performance that can meet the demands of even the most specialized packaging materials. Through advanced engineering and manufacturing, Accredo Packaging enables the successful application of biobased materials derived from renewable and recyclable sugarcane in high-performance packaging, allowing brands to reduce their product carbon footprint compared to equivalent fossil-based polyethylene, whilst maintaining the stringent performance and safety standards their applications require. AT
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